In the news today: Ministers make pitch to avert Trump tariffs

Here is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to bring you up to speed…

Ministers make pitch to avert Trump tariffs

A trio of federal cabinet ministers is in Washington today making a last-ditch attempt to stop U.S. President Donald Trump from imposing economically devastating tariffs on Canadian imports.

Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly, Public Safety Minister David McGuinty and Immigration Minister Marc Miller are all in the U.S. capital, making a final diplomatic push to convince Republican lawmakers and Trump’s team to sway the president.

Trump has signalled he’s prepared to slap 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian imports as early as Saturday.

Trump initially claimed his 25 per cent tariff threat was in response to a failure by Canada and Mexico to curb the illegal flow of people and drugs across the border.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says if the U.S. does move ahead with tariffs, Canada will respond quickly, and says every option is on the table.

Here’s what else we’re watching…

N.B. must adapt amid U.S. tariff threats: premier

Premier Susan Holt warned that New Brunswick faces “serious headwinds” if the United States imposes tariffs but promised to hold the line and meet the targets her government has set out for itself.

At her first state of the province speech Thursday evening, Holt said the government will have to change how things are done in various sectors, including education, environment and the economy to ensure New Brunswick continues to grow.

Some of the changes include supporting those affected by the tariffs with changes in policies and funding, and asking people to support the province by buying locally made products to support the economy, she said.

In spite of U.S. President Donald Trump’s “really hard to predict” behaviour, she reaffirmed some of her party’s priorities, including increasing the number of New Brunswickers with a primary care provider, and increasing the number of affordable housing starts.

Her government has launched a website that will be updated regularly with the government’s achievements and the metrics used to measure its progress. “We want New Brunswickers to hold us accountable.”

Canadian businesses preparing for tariffs

Jessica Miao has been stressed out since November, when U.S. President Donald Trump first threatened to slap 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods.

The co-founder of Apricotton, a Toronto-based company making bras for teens, sees the promised tariffs as “a huge threat” to her business, which was due to expand deeper in the highly coveted U.S. market this year.

Trump has teased the tariffs could arrive Saturday but has also given U.S. officials until April to consider the matter. He has yet to reveal what industries he may target.

The lack of clarity has left Canadian businesses unsure of what to prepare for and how quickly, but many say they’re not leaving anything to chance.

Their readiness has been obvious to Kinaxis — an Ottawa-based company that sells software to businesses including Unilever, Procter & Gamble, Ford and Subaru — as many firms use the software to organize their supply chains and forecast how they will be impacted by future economic, trade and supplier changes.

International study permits overshoot targets

A dramatic decline in international study permits issued last year is quickly becoming an existential threat to the finances of Canadian post-secondary schools, say organizations representing the institutions.

Provinces where international permit allocations were increased last year are also experiencing a decline in international enrolment, creating gaps in budgets that may lead to program cuts.

The federal government said last week that Canada issued about 40 per cent fewer international study permits among kindergarten to Grade 12, post-secondary and postgraduate students last year, overshooting its 35-per-cent target.

This year, it’s seeking a further 10-per-cent reduction.

A recent report from ApplyBoard, an online marketplace for learning institutions, said the number of permits approved for college students likely dropped by about 60 per cent, while approvals for international undergraduate students fell about 40 per cent.

Groceries are about to cost more. Here’s why

This February, Canadians will notice some prices at the grocery store creep higher.

Around the end of January, an annual industry-wide freeze by grocers on prices from suppliers comes to an end.

Every holiday period, most Canadian grocers maintain a blackout on price increase requests from many suppliers. Industry insiders say it’s a long-standing practice that helps stabilize prices during a time of year when consumers are more price-sensitive.

Amid high food inflation and facing criticism from frustrated consumers, the grocers have repeatedly pointed to supplier price increase requests as they defend their profits. They’ve called some of the requests unreasonable, in particular those from large multinationals.

The Canadian Press asked the country’s five largest grocers about the annual blackout period.

Loblaw declined to comment, deferring to the Retail Council of Canada, which also declined to comment.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 31, 2025.

The Canadian Press